ST. PAUL – A bill Rep. Matt Bliss, R-Pennington, authored to study expanding State Highway 371 to four lanes between Jenkins and Cass Lake is scheduled to receive its first House committee hearing Wednesday.
The Paul Bunyan Expressway study Bliss proposes would examine potential obstacles, suggest routes through impacted communities and make other determinations, including an estimated cost of the 57-mile project. The bill (H.F. 1437) provides $4 million to conduct the study and a report by MnDOT would be due to the Legislature no later than Dec. 15.
“I am confident the study would confirm to the state what those of us who live here already know: Highway 371 is a bottleneck between Jenkins and Cass Lake,” Bliss said. “This highway has evolved as a major arterial roadway carrying an increased volume of traffic, especially during peak tourism times. Improvements already have been made to 371 south of Jenkins, so the next logical step is to widen the stretch north of that city. It would increase safety and improve traffic flow to and from our region.”
Bliss is scheduled to present his bill to the House Transportation Policy Committee 1 p.m. Wednesday at the State Office Building in St. Paul. The timing of the hearing coincides with Bemidji Day at the Capitol, an annual event where numerous area residents visit legislators and attend meetings in St. Paul to advocate for local issues.
“It will be nice to have some friendly, local faces in the hearing,” Bliss said. “Their support will be greatly appreciated as we look to get the ball rolling to improve Highway 371.”
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